Call for Saudi women to drive during Obama visit

Saudi women arrive at the Janadriyah festival of Heritage and Culture held in the village of Al-Thamama, 50km north of the capital Riyadh. Saudi activists have urged women to defy a traditional driving ban and get behind the wheel on Saturday, the second day of a visit by US President Barack Obama. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP

RIYADH (AFP) - Saudi activists have urged women to defy a traditional driving ban and get behind the wheel on Saturday, the second day of a visit by US President Barack Obama.

"We have fixed a day every month to pursue our campaign," activist Madiha al-Ajroush told AFP on Friday, insisting that it was a coincidence their latest protest and Obama's visit came on the same day.

Saturday's action is part of a campaign launched on October 26, when 16 women activists were stopped by police for driving.